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Monday, July 28, 2014

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Each year I always struggle when writing this post because I always know that no matter how I say it, I will never be able to adequately thank everyone who contributed to our huge fundraising success. That $131, 730 came from the pockets and hearts of over a thousand people from 47 US states, and 15 countries. This is truly remarkable.

It means the world to me that you folks, very few of which I've met in reality, chose to support my efforts and a shelter that's most likely far from your home. I'm guessing this type of giving is not the norm, so please realize that I consider you all to be quite exceptional humans!

We appreciate every single cent of each donation. This money that we have raised together will go so far to improve the lives of kittens, adult and senior cats. It will fund many great programs and causes and provide our shelter with the resources to do so much today and in the future, too! Thank you for caring and giving so much. Thank you for believing in the mission of our shelter and choosing to support it.

And thank you to everyone for tolerating this long month of asking. I know it's got to get a bit exhausting at times seeing all of those pleas in your Facebook and Twitter feeds. I tried to mix in content that wasn't related to our fundraising, but still, there were times when I know I saturated your feed with maybe too many requests for donations - especially when we were getting close to meeting a match. Thank you for understanding and not "unfollowing" us last month

And an extra special thanks to the following folks:

Craig:
Thank you for tolerating a month of fundraising madness yet again. I know it must be frustrating when important things get pushed to the side and life gets scheduled around what time the matching donation challenge of the day ends. I appreciate your flexibility during these hairy four weeks. Thank you for creating a beautiful painting of Charlene for the auction, too.

Marguerite:
Thank you for sharing shelter stories, photos, and statistics. I know what you shared inspired a whole lot of giving, and I'm grateful for that.

Team Members Shana, Sarah, and Marguerite:
Thank you once again for working hard to raise squillions! Everyone met their goals (and then some) and helped put us WAY over the top this year!

Opal, Ellis, and Lola:
You are special young people and your generosity touched many hearts and triggered many donations. Thank you for being you. And thank you for using your creativity to raise so much money.

Cora:
Thank you for crafting those adorable cozies for our auction. They brought in a pretty penny and are going to make the auction winner very happy!

Ninja Bob:
Thank you for putting on your tuxedo on the hottest day of the year and helping us answer the phones. You're a trooper!

Kathleen Merryman:
Thank you for writing a very nice piece on the IBKC. The article brought lots of new fans our way!

Jana and the IPop family:
Thank you for donating the magnet sets for us to give away!

Christy of Libertine Tacoma:
Thank you dear for donation portion of your sales to help the cats and kittens out! We appreciate your generosity and quality goods!

To our adopters:
Thank you for providing the wonderful updates on your babies. We loved seeing how they've grown!

Mary H, Lynn, and Rosemary:
Thank you for offering up a wonderful matches and inspiring folks to meet them! And thank you, Mary H, for stitching up all the beds for the shelter cats!

Our auction winners:
Thank you for your generous bids and providing us with entertainment as we watched the bidding frenzy!

Awesome Anonymous Donors:
Thank you for the many huge matches. I will do the rest of my thanking of you in private, because I respect your wish to remain anonymous, but I will say publicly, that you are awesome.

And of course, dear Cynthia:
Your heart is huge for our cause, and we appreciate you so much. The way you give is beautiful and generous in so many ways. Thank you for the many matches you offered. Your giving inspired so many to give, and you are such a big part of that total we raised. Thank you too for creating the video and sharing with us why you choose to give to our shelter. You moved many people with your words, including myself.

Now please multiply the gratitude I have expressed times a squillion, and know that even that falls short of how I truly feel.

This community is amazing, and unlike any other I've seen online. It's filled with positive, caring, beautiful, giving people. I hope your heart feels as full as mine does right now.

Oh my, Laurie. Oh my. You are such a wonderful person. I am sure every single person who supported the IBKC (in any way they could) knows that you are the best. Just knowing you is a privilege and an inspiration. Especially since you come with a furry accessory on your shoulder. Everyone in our home loves you, too. Thank you for everything!

You are a beautiful person, Laurie. What an honor to share in this incredible feat. Here's to all the kittens, adult cats & seniors, adopters, staff and volunteers who benefit from this community. Cheers!

Thank YOU for what you do. I fostered a litter once in an emergency situation, and while absolutely adorable and fun, it is also a TON of work. And it's messy. And stinky. And so cute and full of cuddles, but still. And you do it all the time, with so many babies, some in need of help learning how to go to the bathroom, eat, etc.

And thank you, for bringing so much joy to others. I laugh in delight every time I visit this blog. I cry when you cry over a lost baby. I almost cried the day you announced that Wylla would stay, then impatiently waited for my mom to arrive home so I could push her to her computer and say, "Look!! Read Itty Bitty!!!"

You bring so much GOOD to the world in what you do, and yet, here you are, thanking all of us. Gracefully accepted...with a huge, added, THANK YOU right back atcha.

Thank you for posting a link to the article from Tacoma Weekly. I tried to find it when you posted the picture about it, but couldn't - it's a splendid article and I'm glad those of us who can't put our bitty fingers on the real paper are able to read it. And thank you, Tacoma Weekly, for giving such well-written space to tiny kittens :)

Laurie, I think that all the effort you put in to your blog, the stories, the pictures, the names you give the kittens, you make them feel like my own little pets too. I love no where near Tacoma but couldn't not give even a little to help. Thank you for all you do for these little sweeties.

Laurie, none of this could happen without you. There may be a whole community of Itty Bitty friends and supporters now, but it all started because you decided to host a blog about your foster babies and then decide to raise money for the shelter. You have created a whole community of people who love all of you and what you do every day! And thanks so much for posting the link to that Tacoma Weekly article; it was beautifully written, and certainly was a great local tribute to you and your wonderful shelter. I can't wait to see pictures of the new kitten room that will be created from this year's funds, and the babies who benefit from it!

Great job, Laurie, and all of the IBKC community. As someone who has been in Laurie's position, I can truly say that she is amazing in her efforts and success and this group of people from all over the world that she's cultivated are truly beautiful. I'm proud to call myself a member of this awesome group!

And a great big cuddle and Thank You to Ms. Charlene Butterbean, too. It was you, Charlene, who first got my attention during the first fundraiser and kept me coming back to watch you (and Laurie) foster all the wee ones. I read the blog to my kitties in hopes that they will someday be inspired to be as cool as you. But of course, they just blink at me and return to their respective sunbeams to nap.

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^^^ Look what we did! Thanks to YOU!

Please click on cute kitten above to learn about our fundraiser for our shelter and make a tax-deductible donation! Thanks!

YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!

WE LOVE YOU IBKC COMMUNITY!

A HUGE THANKS TO OUR AWESOME DONORS!

Thank you so much for caring so much and giving to support the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County. Because of your huge hearts, we're making the difference in the lives of so many cat and kittens. Well done, Community. Well done!

We're always on the hunt for good people in the Seattle or Tacoma area to adopt our fosters kittens. If you are thinking about adding a kitten or two to your life, drop us a line and tell us a little bit about yourself. Click here to email the IBKC !